SWW Principal Removed - Reason Unknown

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That’s not how government/school HR works. If this was in reaction to something that was going on right now, or very recently, he would have been put on leave, he would not have been fired. HR stuff takes a long time to play out in government - especially for a tenured principal. This is more likely the final stage of a process that began a while ago. I doubt this is COVID related at all - and certainly not due to immediate safety concerns.

Principals don't have tenure in DCPS, everyone is on a one-year contract.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The SWW Home-School Association (the PTA) President has called for people to protest against this removal of Principal Trogisch. There will be a protest October 8th at 8 am in front of Francis-Stevens. For those who cannot attend, here is a petition calling for the same. https://www.change.org/p/dcps-reinstate-richard-trogisch-as-principal-of-swwhs-and-swwfs?utm_content=cl_sharecopy_25133413_en-US%3A1&recruiter=1123305419&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=copylink&utm_campaign=share_petition

Without knowing the particulars, how do you know what you are protesting?

https://www.swwhs.org/news/a-statement-on-behalf-of-swwhs-and-swwfs-hsas-and-lsats
Here is the official statement for those interested.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The SWW Home-School Association (the PTA) President has called for people to protest against this removal of Principal Trogisch. There will be a protest October 8th at 8 am in front of Francis-Stevens. For those who cannot attend, here is a petition calling for the same. https://www.change.org/p/dcps-reinstate-richard-trogisch-as-principal-of-swwhs-and-swwfs?utm_content=cl_sharecopy_25133413_en-US%3A1&recruiter=1123305419&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=copylink&utm_campaign=share_petition

Excellent.

To the posters who seem to be trying to spread confusion re: past issues and/or speaking out—

The issue here is that the mayor and Chancellor fired one of the most popular principals at one of the best schools in the system,
for saying he only wanted to reopen if safe.

That is garbage and there deserves to be protests.

Additionally, can we call central office or chancellor or mayor? What’s the best contacts to use?

[Anonymous]

He may be relieved from doing two jobs in the first place.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:He was always outspoken and pushed back against central Office idiotic policies. Chancellor and Mayor expect folks to fall in line. They do not like wild cards. He was fired as an example to other principals. Fall in line or you are next.

So at the end of the day this is a 'Peter Cahall' firing part 2. Get in line or get out is the message. Well done DCPS. You certainly know how to grow and maintain talent. I only hope that this has a more transparent and better ending than Mr. Cahall's.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:He was always outspoken and pushed back against central Office idiotic policies. Chancellor and Mayor expect folks to fall in line. They do not like wild cards. He was fired as an example to other principals. Fall in line or you are next.

So at the end of the day this is a 'Peter Cahall' firing part 2. Get in line or get out is the message. Well done DCPS. You certainly know how to grow and maintain talent. I only hope that this has a more transparent and better ending than Mr. Cahall's.

Mr. Cahalls firing was a travesty. Given how he passed shortly thereafter, really a tragedy. When I worked in DCPS and witnessed the pressured on principals, it became obvious to me that really great principals had to spend a lot of time "defending " their schools from central admin. isnt there something wrong with that dynamic?

[Anonymous]

This is just horrifying. How can Bowser and her cronies protest Trump so vigorously and then turn around and act with the same blatant disregard for transparency and good governance.

[Anonymous]

SWW Parent. I'm glad Trogisch is gone. (It's an unpopular opinion.) It took a long time to remove a bad, bad seed. Ms. Isaac's runs SWW and has for years and I hope she applies and is named the new principal. Trogisch was never visible in school. Politics is always involved and Trogisch knew who to kiss up to and when to take a "stand". Ask families about his character - not just the families on the HSA or LSAT boards. Go deeper than he spoke over re-opening schools...please.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:SWW Parent. I'm glad Trogisch is gone. (It's an unpopular opinion.) It took a long time to remove a bad, bad seed. Ms. Isaac's runs SWW and has for years and I hope she applies and is named the new principal. Trogisch was never visible in school. Politics is always involved and Trogisch knew who to kiss up to and when to take a "stand". Ask families about his character - not just the families on the HSA or LSAT boards. Go deeper than he spoke over re-opening schools...please.

I have no opinion on him - but from a process perspective I would assume the reasons to remove a Principal right now in THIS school year is that his actions (or lack of) endangered the students OR there is a criminal element that is about to break such that if DCPS did not take action, they would be scrutinized for not doing something.

DCPS had already renewed his contract for the year- so character elements that you are referring to should have been known and weighted in the decision to renew his contract earlier this year.

[Anonymous]

Was SWW even on the list for early reopening plans? I recall that list was fairly short.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The SWW Home-School Association (the PTA) President has called for people to protest against this removal of Principal Trogisch. There will be a protest October 8th at 8 am in front of Francis-Stevens. For those who cannot attend, here is a petition calling for the same. https://www.change.org/p/dcps-reinstate-richard-trogisch-as-principal-of-swwhs-and-swwfs?utm_content=cl_sharecopy_25133413_en-US%3A1&recruiter=1123305419&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=copylink&utm_campaign=share_petition

Excellent.

To the posters who seem to be trying to spread confusion re: past issues and/or speaking out—

The issue here is that the mayor and Chancellor fired one of the most popular principals at one of the best schools in the system,
for saying he only wanted to reopen if safe.

That is garbage and there deserves to be protests.

Additionally, can we call central office or chancellor or mayor? What’s the best contacts to use?

Chancellor Ferebee: [e-mail] ; Phone: [phone] - DCPS main line

Melissa Kim: [e-mail]

Mayor Muriel Bowser: [e-mail]; Phone [phone]

Councilmember Phil Mendelson: [e-mail]; Phone [phone]

Councilmember David Grosso: [e-mail]; Phone [phone]

Councilmember Brooke Pinto: [e-mail]; Phone [phone]

Ward 2 SBOE rep Jack Jacobson: [e-mail]

[Anonymous]

Trogish was toxic. He was good to some and not others. He does not know the kids. He only knows parent he valued. I am glad he is done. Took too long DCPS.

[Anonymous]

I don’t have a child at Walls and don’t know much about Trogisch. What little I’ve heard makes me think he’s a mixed bag.

But all DCPS parents (I have one at Wilson and one at Deal who is interested in Walls) have a stake in this because what happened at Walls today could happen at another school tomorrow—and already has, at multiple schools, as other posters have noted.

Regardless of the merits of Trogisch as a principal, absent major child endangerment the method and timing of this action is incredibly destabilizing and suspect. Others have said we don’t know the whole story and shouldn’t jump to conclusions...but what have Bowser and Ferebee ever done to make us think that we’ll ever get the whole story? Bowser is anti-transparency in everything she does. So the default position here has to be that they’re hiding something and not acting in the best interests of the school.

So I support the parents and students who are taking a stand. I hope this event—given the high profile of the school and the connectedness of the parents—is the thing that finally drives change in how the school system is run, starting with ending mayoral control.

Also, remember to vote—Bowser is very close to losing majority support on the Council. Figure out which two of the 24(!) candidates are most likely to hold her accountable and push for change.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:SWW Parent. I'm glad Trogisch is gone. (It's an unpopular opinion.) It took a long time to remove a bad, bad seed. Ms. Isaac's runs SWW and has for years and I hope she applies and is named the new principal. Trogisch was never visible in school. Politics is always involved and Trogisch knew who to kiss up to and when to take a "stand". Ask families about his character - not just the families on the HSA or LSAT boards. Go deeper than he spoke over re-opening schools...please.

A few years ago I hung out with someone who taught there and she seemed very frustrated with him. That's not to say he isn't being unfairly removed now. I don't know enough to judge. But I'm not so sure he is so well-regarded by everyone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Trogish was toxic. He was good to some and not others. He does not know the kids. He only knows parent he valued. I am glad he is done. Took too long DCPS.

+1 His dismissal sounds poorly handled in typical DCPS fashion, but it was long overdue. They should give each school their own principal. Trogish has long been MIA at the HS.